Transportable apparatus for projecting moving pictures



y 3, 1930. AL. I. CJDEBRIE 1,758,783

TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING MOVING PICTURES Filed Jan. 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZfDrQ/WUP & QL./C742 b/VP May 13, 1930. A. v. c. DEBRIE TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROJEGTING MOVING PICTURES Filed Jan. 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QZhK/VTQ/ QZhWCQQb/V? fzw W Patented May 13, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSPORTABLE APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING MOVING PICTURES Application filed January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,706, and in France February 26, 1925.

My invention has for its object an apparatus for projecting moving pictures which shows the double advantage of being very easily transportable and of providing for perfect safety against fire.

In view of providing the first advantage, the apparatus the size of which is very small shows no projecting part. For instance, one of the important features of the apparatus 1 is that the two storing boxes one for feeding he film and the other for receiving it are disposed in the following manner: the receiving storing box which is stationary forms a coi'i'ipartment provided inside and on one side of the apparatus. The feeding box which is removable is disposed, when the apparatus is being moved, inside the stationary box.

The control device actuating the film is set on one side opposite the side where the receiving box is disposed. Under these conditions when the pictures are to be projected, the feeding box is fixed to the top of the apparatus above its optic axis and the film passes from one side to the other of the apparatus and is then wound up in the receiving box.

On the contrary, for rev-Jinding the iihn on its spool through a reversing of the direction of rotation of the controlling motor, which must be done as speedily as possible and during which consequently it is preferable to avoid that the film should pass through the control device, the removable box wherein the rewinding is produced can be secured to the other side of the apparatus which is the side where the stationary box is disposed, whereby the film passes directly from one box to the other.

For this rewinding of the film on its spool and also during the projection when it is of advantage to allow the performer (for instance a lecturer) to make part of the film move backwards so as to project it once again, the shaft of the feeding spool secured in the removt ble storing box is preferably made a driving shaft. In view of this it is borne by the end of a connecting rod which can collapse so as to not increase the volume taken up by the apparatus. This rod can be moved from one side to the other of the apparatus according as to Whether the removable box is in the position for projecting or for rewinding the film. The driving shaft bears a pulley connected by belt with a pulley actuated by the motor driving the apparatus. Several auxiliary features make the use of the apparatus more practical. Thus the t vo storing boxes for feeding and receiving the film open towards the same side of the apparatus whereby the handling is made considerably easier.

On the other hand in view of preventing the person holding the apparatus from being hampered by the spools on which the film is wound, one of these, the receiving spool is removable and its two cheeks are taken in the stationary storing box together with the removable storing box.

A form of execution of my invention is described by way of example with reference to appended drawings whereof:

Fig. l is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus when projecting the front part of it being supposed removed.

Fig. i is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus when projecting showing the film passing through the front part of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises two parts. The rear part is constituted by a box 1 in sheet iron for instance and is closed at its front side by a plate 2. To this rear part is pivotally secured the front 3 serving as a lid. This front part is, on Fig. 2, shown open in dotted lines, Inside the rear part of the apparatus which is provided for instance with a handle 5 similar to that of a handbag, is arranged by means of partitions 6, 7 (Fig. 2) a lateral compartment closed by a door hinged at 9. This compartment forms the stationary or receiving storing box through which passes a spindle 9 over which the removable feeding box 10 is mounted in its inoperative position. This box 10 contains its spool 11 or feeding spool. As to the receiving spool, in view of its not hampering the person holding it, it may be taken to pieces and its two cheeks 12 adapted to be operatively secured to the spindle 9 are disconnected, when the feeding box is stored inside the receivin box, and disposed independently inside the receiving box together with the feeding box.

Inside the large compartment provided at the rear part of the apparatus, is disposed the illuminating system, that is the lamp 13, the mirror 14: and the condenser 15. The adjustment of the condenser can be provided for from the outside by means of a knob not shown which does not project outside the walls of the apparatus. The same compartment contains also the electric motor 16 and its rheostat 17 the controlling slider 18 of which can be turned down into a recess so as not to project beyond the walls of the apparatus when it is being moved. The motor shaft bears directly the shutter 19 and the fan 20.

The general control device comprises the large toothed wheel 21. This wheel is provided with a shaft 22 passing right through the apparatus and to the end of which can be secured the crank 23 (Fig. 3) which serves for the hand control. In this case the move ment is transmitted through the speed multiplying gear comprising the gearwheels 24, 25 to the pinion 26 keyed on the shaft bearing the shutter. If on the contrary the apparatus is motor driven, the movement is transmitted in the opposite direction from the motor 16 through the pinions 26, 25, to the wheel 21. Bound this wheel 21 are distributed the several parts which are to be actuated: the top feeding device 27, the bottom feeding device 28 and the film feeding arrangement referred to by the ordinal 29 and which can be a hammer mechanism, a Maltese cross mechanism or any other suitable mechanism. This film feeding device is en tirely set on the side of the apparatus which is opposed to the receiving storing box. It projects inside the front part of the apparatus with reference to the plate 2, but it is secured to the rear part and is preferably enclosed inside a small casing secured to the plate 2. Moreover the spindle 9 is actuated by the wheel 21 through the wheels 2% and 24".

he several shafts of the motor and of the gear wheels are supported by bearings secured to two plates 30, 31 (Fig. 2). The several gear wheels are placed on the side of the apparatus opposed to the receiving storing box and the corresponding closing panel 32 is pivoted at 33 so as to allow it to he opened and the inside of the apparatus to be visited.

The apparatus, as described, is in the position adapted for its being transported. When the pictures are to be projected the feeding storing box 10 should be removed y from the receiving storing box and placed at the top part of the apparatus above the film feeding device at 10 (Figs. 3 and 4). The

front part of the apparatus is opened and the film is made to pass over suitable drums. Its placing in its channel is made easier by the fact that the film gate 35 is pivoted at 36 and thereby allowed to open. ll hen it has come out of the feeding device, the film 34 passes from one side to the other of the apparatus (Fig. 3) and enters the receiving storing box through the slot 37.

t is necessary to be able to move the film backwards. This arrives for instance esuecially when a lecturer desires to show a second time a part of the film which has not been seen during a sufficient time. This backwards movement is either produced by hand by rotating the crank in the reverse direction or by the motor through the reversing switch 38 (Fig. 1). But the reverse movement must be given to the feeding spool. In view of this the shaft 39 driving this spool is supported by a rod 40 pivoted at 41. When this rod is collapsed, it is contained inside the apparatus as ready to be transported (Fig. 1). The shaft 39 bears a pulley &2 connected through the belt 43 to the pulley 44 (Fig. i) actuated by the wheel 21 through the toothed wheels 4:5 and l6.

W hen it is desired to move the film backwards i. e. upwards for rewinding the film contained. in the receiving storing box into the feeding storing box instead of merely making it move backwards for a short time as hereinbefore, I prefer, for the operation to be as speedy as possible, to prevent the film from passing through the whole feeding de-' vice of the apparatus. Therefore the remov able storing box is brought into the position 10 (Fig. The driving shaft 39 is replaced. by a longer shaft and the rod 4:0 is moved along the shank 48 until it comes into the position 40'. t is seen that the slot 37 through which the film passes out of the receiving storing box is just in front of the removable storing box. By st rting the motor after reversing its direction of rotation or by rotating the crank 23 in a direction opposite to the normal direction, the him is speedily rewound. It is of advantage to combine with the above described apparatus a lamp provided with several filaments. The object of this arrangement is to allow the illumination to be diminished and thereby the heating of the film when the latter is no more moving or moves slowly and to increase the illumination gradually up to a maximum when the film passes at normal speed. The change in the illumination can be produced automatically by a device such as that shown diagrammatically on Fig. 1.

An annular weight 50 is secured at 49 perpendicularly to the motor shaft and is pivoted through the connecting rod 51 to a disc 52. A spring 53 urges the disc 52 towards the right and thereby urges the weight 50 into a position oblique with reference to the motor shaft. When the latter starts the centrifugal force has a tendency to set the Weight straight. For a sufficient speed the weight 50 is set perpendicularly with reference to the motor shaft whilst drawing the disc 52 towards the left. Under these conditions the lever 54 urged by the spring 55 provides for the contact between the contacting parts 56, 57 which close the circuit giving the maximum illumination. WVhen the speed diminishes these parts are separated and the minimum illumination is again produced.

hat I claim is:

1. A transportable apparatus for projecting moving pictures comprising a casing, an optic arrangement and a film driving mechanism inside said casing, a film feed reel, a take up reel, a r movable box disposed inside the casing and containing the film feed reel, a box for Storing the take up reel inside the casing, the removable box being adapted to be secured outside the casing either above the second box or above the film driving mechanism and collapsible means for driving the film feed reel inside its box in either of its positions outside the casing.

2. A transportable apparatus for projecting moving pictures comprising a casing, an optic arrangement and a film driving mechanism inside said casing, a film feed reel, a disconnectible take up reel, a removable box containing the film feed reel, a box formed in the casing laterally with reference to the optic ar *angement and to the film driving mechas nism, and adapted to store the removable box containing the film feed reel and the disconnected parts of the film take up reel, means for securing the removable box outside the casing above the optic arrangement and the film driving mechanism, means for securing the said removable box outside the casing above the box formed in the casing, a shaft adapted to drive the film feed reel when the box containing said reel is secured outside the casing, a shank disposed inside the casing and parallel to said shaft, a disconnectible rod slidably secured to the said shank and supporting said shaft, and means for driving said shaft through the film driving mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDRE LEON VICTOR CLEMENT DEBRIE. 

